Will County, IL Home Business: Zoning & Home Occupation Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Floor area cap
- 33% of dwelling floor area
- Nonresident employees
- Maximum of one on-site
- Customer visiting hours
- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. only
- Geographic reach
- Unincorporated Will County only
- Prohibited uses
- Retail stores, restaurants, manufacturing
Summary
Will County's zoning ordinance allows home occupations as an accessory use in unincorporated areas, capping business floor area at 33% of the dwelling and barring retail stores, restaurants and manufacturing.
(1) Where allowed. One or more home occupations are allowed as accessory uses to an allowed household living use. (2) Overall regulations... (c) The use of a dwelling unit for home occupation activities must be clearly incidental and subordinate to the dwelling's use for residential purposes by its occupants. (d) Floor area devoted to any home occupations on the site may not exceed 33% of the floor area of the dwelling unit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-25: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance No. 24-100, passed 4-18-2024 and Res. 23-387, passed 11-16-2023; and State legislation approved through 2024 Pamphlet #2).
Full Breakdown
Under Will County Code § 155-10.10(D), home occupations are allowed as accessory uses in every zoning district but must stay clearly subordinate to the home's residential use: floor area is capped at 33% of the dwelling, only one nonresident employee can work on-site, customers are allowed on the property only from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and outdoor storage or display is banned. Retail stores, restaurants, kennels, manufacturing and vehicle repair are flatly prohibited as home occupations, and operators must consult the Zoning Administrator before starting. These rules apply only in unincorporated Will County. Joliet, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Plainfield and Lockport enforce their own separate zoning codes for home businesses.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Administrator enforces zoning violations under § 155-17.20; each week a home-occupation violation goes uncorrected after notice counts as a separate offense, and the county can withhold permits or pursue other zoning remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run a home business anywhere in Will County?
How much of my house can my home business use?
Do I need a permit to start a home occupation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Will County
How Will County compares: Easiest Cities to Run a Home Business·Compare Will County to another location·View the Illinois home business overview
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